MAN12. Los Angeles (United States), 20/01/2018.- Demonstrators participate in the Women’s March in downtown Los Angeles, California, USA, 20 January 2018. The protest, which is taking place in cities around the country, is taking place a year after the first Women’s March was held in response to President Donald Trump’s inauguration. (Protestas, Estados Unidos) EFE/EPA/MIKE NELSON

If Democrats hope to take back control of Congress this November, they’re going to need to keep their base energized, engaged and voting. But if “The Resistance” decides to swap out their pussyhats for sun hats and head to the beach instead of the voting booth this June, Congress will almost certainly remain in the hands of the GOP.

Earlier this week the Los Angeles Times reported, “a safe bet is that only about 6 million votes will be cast in next month’s election” in California.

According to the Times, low voter turnout would dramatically change the makeup of the electorate in ways that would benefit the GOP.

For example, in the Central Valley, where Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, is up for reelection in what is considered to be a toss-up district, “Democrats have a 17-point registration advantage.” However, the paper added that “if the models are right, that could drop to less than 6 points among those who actually cast votes next month.”

In Orange County’s 39th and 49th congressional districts, there are slightly more Republicans registered than Democrats. But the Times predicts there will be 15,000 more Republican ballots cast in June.

If these projections turn out to be right, GOP candidates will likely get both slots in our top-two primary in at least one contested congressional election, and could monopolize as many as four.

If this Democratic nightmare scenario actually happens, Nancy Pelosi’s only shot of being a speaker again will be if Comedy Central decides to do a roast of RuPaul.

Retired California State University Fullerton political scientist Barbara Stone believes this outcome is entirely possible. Stone told the Orange County Register that if there is an apathetic electorate, “Republicans probably come out ahead. The Democrats are counting on enthusiasm to get out more voters than usual. Low turnout probably is not good for them. Although I suppose depressed Republicans could be what affects the vote.”

But Stone notes that factors at the local level could make California Republicans even more motivated to turn out than their Democratic counterparts. “Mimi Walters, R-Irvine, is working very hard; two viable Republicans make Dana’s (Rohrabacher) R-Huntington Beach district a Republican draw, and three well-funded Republicans in (Rep. Ed) Royce’s R-Fullerton district should keep that party’s turnout up,” she said.

Additionally, former San Francisco Mayor and self-described “Ayatollah of the Assembly” Willie Brown thinks that many Democratic candidates for Congress are positioning themselves all wrong.

Writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, Brown notes that, “Like it or not, a significant number of Americans are actually happy these days. They are making money. They feel safe, and they agree with the president’s protectionist trade policies, his call for more American jobs, even his immigration stance.”

Brown’s prescription for these candidates: “Rather than stoking the base by attacking Trump, Democrats need to come up with a platform that addresses the average voters’ hopes and concerns. Not just the needs of underdogs or whatever cause happens to be the media flavor of the week,” he said.

Democrats think that just because their base hates President Donald Trump with the white-hot hate of a thousand suns, follows the Russia investigation like it’s “Days of Our Lives” and views Stormy Daniels’ creepy porno attorney as a respected legal authority, the average guy on the street feels the same way.

Newsflash: They don’t. In fact, there’s even some evidence that the Democratic base is tiring of those stories.

Compared to this same week last year, Fox News increased its total viewers in primetime and total daytime hours by 6 and 3 percent.

Conversely, CNN and MSNBC — which have devoted countless hours to covering the Russia investigation and the porn star du jour — have seen a drop in ratings. MSNBC has seen a 9 percent downturn in total primetime and daytime hours, and CNN has seen a 29 percent free-fall in primetime and a 25 percent decline in total daytime hours.

If it’s true that the road to a Democratic majority runs through California, Nancy Pelosi could get stuck in a Sig Alert on the 405.

John Phillips is a CNN political commentator and can be heard weekdays at 3 p.m. on “The Drive Home with Jillian Barberie and John Phillips” on KABC/AM 790.